Escape the everyday with a summer road trip! Americans are rediscovering the joy of affordable, domestic travel, fueled by lower gas prices and a desire for predictable vacations. Explore scenic routes, enjoy the open road, and create unforgettable memories on your next adventure. Learn how to plan the perfect budget-friendly road trip, from optimizing gas costs with rewards programs to packing smart for delicious, on-the-go meals
Escape the uncertainty and embrace the open road this summer! With gas prices down and a renewed love for road trips, Americans are choosing affordable, domestic adventures. Avoid flight chaos and international travel hassles – plan your perfect summer road trip today
4,500-Mile Road Trip: How One Man Saves Money on Summer Adventures. James Willamor, 45, shares his tips for affordable camping road trips, including budgeting for gas (spending $500-$800 using rewards programs), meal planning, and utilizing a portable refrigerator for fresh food. Discover how he enjoys the scenic journey and gradual landscape changes, a key benefit over air travel
He loves watching the scenery transform during his road trips, a gradual shift from tranquil rivers to rolling hills and finally majestic mountains – a key reason he enjoys exploring America's scenic byways
Unlike air travel's instant biome shifts, the gradual landscape changes on a cross-country road trip are truly captivating. Witnessing the scenery evolve over three or four days, from rivers to mountains, is the best part of my summer adventure
Record-breaking numbers of Americans hit the road for Memorial Day weekend, with AAA projecting a surge in road trip travel. Over 1 million more people traveled by car compared to last year, a jump from 38.2 million in 2024 to 39.4 million this year. This increase reflects the growing popularity of domestic road trips, driven by factors like lower gas prices and a desire for travel certainty
Domestic travel surges for Fourth of July: Airbnb reports a 32% increase in bookings within 300 miles of home compared to last year, highlighting a continued trend of staycations and road trips fueled by economic factors and a desire for predictable travel
Summer Road Trip Surge: Enterprise Reports Increased Leisure Travel Bookings This summer, Americans are hitting the road, with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo reporting a significant year-over-year rise in leisure travel bookings from non-airport locations. This trend reflects the growing popularity of road trips, driven by factors like economic uncertainty and lower gas prices
Summer Road Trip Surge: Americans Embrace the Open Road. Enterprise Mobility research confirms a rising trend: road trips are the preferred summer getaway. Lower gas prices, economic uncertainty, and a desire for predictable travel fuel this increase in domestic adventures. Discover why more people are choosing the freedom and affordability of a summer road trip
Lower gas prices are fueling a summer road trip boom! With gas costs down significantly from 2022 highs, hitting the open road is more affordable than ever, making it the perfect budget-friendly vacation option for families and adventurers alike
Road trip vacations are booming! Pack Up + Go, a surprise vacation planner, reports a significant increase in road trip bookings. June bookings show a 47% surge in road trip packages compared to just 27% last year, highlighting the growing popularity of domestic road trips in 2024
Economic uncertainty drives surge in budget travel bookings. Rafson reports a significant increase in minimum-cost travel bookings during periods of economic instability, citing spikes during last November's election and again in April and May. This trend reflects a shift towards budget-friendly vacations
Summer road trips are booming! While some travel plans have been impacted by economic uncertainty, Americans are embracing budget-friendly road trips, enjoying lower gas prices and the freedom of the open road. Data shows a slight shift towards shorter, more affordable getaways, but overall travel remains strong, with millions hitting the highway this summer for memorable vacations
Skip the flight and hit the road this summer! With gas prices down and rising concerns about air travel delays and safety, a road trip offers a budget-friendly and reliable vacation option. Enjoy the open road and the scenic journey—a perfect alternative to the uncertainties of flying
Newark Airport flight delays, caused by air traffic control issues, are making travelers hesitant. This summer, many are opting for road trips instead, enjoying cheaper gas prices and the scenic route. Domestic road trips offer a predictable and budget-friendly vacation alternative to air travel
Some travelers are opting for road trips just because they want to; Scott Reing, 37, is planning a 2,500-mile-long road trip for his family to the Grand Canyon to commemorate his wedding anniversary. His family alternates between bigger vacations abroad and domestic trips to national parks. This year happened to be a national parks year. In theory, he said, some of the appeal of the domestic trip this time around is price, although the cost will still be hefty with the amount of time they’re spending on the road.
“You kind of have more control over what you’re spending when you’re doing a road trip versus going to an all-inclusive or going on a cruise or flying abroad,” Reing said. “You really have the choice to stay in a motel or a campsite one night or two nights or 10 nights versus something else.”
Even so, Reing said he isn’t broadly rethinking travel or travel spending; next year, he could end up somewhere abroad, like Japan. Indeed, many Americans are still opting for European or international travel this summer, with some powering through uncertainties and deciding it’s worth it.
But the road is still calling. Cathy Keibler, a 65-year-old retiree in Indiana, is eagerly planning her first major road trip across the country. She wants to see the country, but has no desire to fly anymore. She and her husband have a new Prius, so they’re not too concerned about gas expenses and are planning to bring a cooler to mitigate food costs.
Keibler also wants to get a closer view of what’s happening in her own country; with unrest and uncertainty, a road trip offers an opportunity to see firsthand how that’s reflected in different corners of the nation.
“Part of the more idealistic reason for making this road trip is to maybe try to get in touch a little bit with really what’s happening out there in the country in a way that we can’t really do when we’re just driving on the interstates and maybe pulling over at a McDonald’s,” she said.
Are you going on a road trip, or cutting travel costs in other ways? Contact this reporter at jkaplan@businessinsider.com.
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